Gervonta “Tank” Davis fought the fight of his life on Saturday night, but it wasn’t enough to secure a decisive victory. In front of a sold-out crowd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Davis defended his WBA lightweight championship against Lamont Roach Jr. in a majority draw.
The bout ended with two judges scoring the fight 114-114 and a third judge awarding Davis a 115-113 decision. However, the scorecards were far from decisive, leaving both fighters feeling like they had won the contest.
Davis attributed his slow start to “grease” from his hair getting into his eye, which caused him to take a knee in the ninth round. The referee declined to call a knockdown, allowing Roach to escape with the round. However, the knockdown could have swung the pendulum in Roach’s favor.
Roach Jr., who had faced Davis in the amateurs and lost, proved to be a formidable opponent. He absorbed Davis’ powerful blows and responded with his own shots, stunning both Davis and the crowd. The usually patient Davis was forced to get serious once he realized Roach wouldn’t back down under pressure.
In the middle rounds, Davis began to let his hands go, creating openings for Roach to counterattack. Despite being out-landed in terms of punches, Davis was able to salvage the draw by pressing the action in the final two rounds and landing some significant power shots.
The fight saw both fighters demonstrate their skills, but ultimately, it was a draw. Roach Jr. is already calling for a rematch, while Davis is eager to face his rival again soon.
Source: https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/44076175/davis-roach-fight-majority-draw-knockdown-controversy